We’ve seen the headlines: on 14 February, the US Department of Education ruled that race-based scholarships and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes violate civil-rights law. Universities that don’t dismantle these programmes risk losing federal funding.
This is not an abstract threat. It is an orchestrated effort to erase decades of progress — the very infrastructure that has helped under-represented students to access, navigate and succeed in spaces that were never built for them. And it’s not just in the United States. Rollbacks are also taking place in parts of Europe, for example.
The question is not whether institutions will comply, but which ones will fight back — and how.
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If universities, faculty members and students allow this ruling to take root, the consequences will extend beyond campus walls. Anti-inclusion policies risk severing international collaborations and global-talent pipelines, stifling innovation and weakening research partnerships.
Silence is complicity. The administration of US President Donald Trump is betting on universities weighing up the cost of speaking out and deciding that federal funding is worth more than their commitment to equity. But the cost of inaction is greater. Compliance won’t just dismantle crucial programmes, it will signal that universities are prepared to abandon their values the moment they are tested.
Higher education must not back down. But to win this fight, universities need a plan. For starters, they must reject the anti-DEI directive — clearly and unequivocally. No vague corporate messaging. No strategic hedging. Their statements must affirm that DEI programmes expand opportunities, rather than take them away.
Universities have taken a stand on this topic before. On 29 June 2023, just an hour after the US Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions, Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, reaffirmed its commitment to such initiatives. In January 2024, Princeton University in New Jersey voiced its steadfast support for DEI initiatives amid nationwide attacks. Similar pressure must be applied now.
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Faculty members hold more power than many realize. Without their labour, research and expertise, universities cannot function. The US administration might hope that academics will remain siloed, too consumed with their own work — or too afraid — to resist. However, if faculty members unite across institutions, they can become a force that the federal government cannot ignore.
But words won’t be enough. Faculty senates must formally call on universities to refuse compliance. Such resolutions aren’t just symbolic — they create a record that can be cited in lawsuits, the media and advocacy.
If faculty members are to take a stand, universities must back them up — protecting academic freedom, defending academics against retaliation and refusing to cave in to intimidation. Many faculty members are their family’s sole breadwinner. Others have been personally targeted or smeared in public campaigns. For some, organizing against this directive would not be just an act of resistance, it would be an act of professional and personal risk.
Faculty members must also educate the public. This isn’t only about fairness — it’s about the global workforce. A diverse, well-educated talent pool fuels innovation and economic growth. The effects of access to higher education being narrowed down will ripple through industry and global research collaborations.
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